Monday?s Expert League Wrap - Round 23, 2006

With just three rounds remaining before the finals, the Melbourne Storm have all but wrapped up the minor premiership following their 18-12 victory over the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday. Played in front of a Lang Park crowd of 40,159, the Storm overcame a 10-0 half time deficit to run out winners and maintain their spot at the top of the NRL ladder. The southern franchise are now on 40 competition points and six points clear of the field. The Broncos are clinging onto fifth spot and join a log jam of teams on 26 points.

Round 23 kicked off on Friday night with the Manly Sea Eagles hanging on to defeat the Newcastle Knights 16-14 in Newcastle. The Sea Eagles are now in outright third position on 28 points while the Knights are in sixth position on 26 points.

Saturday rugby league took us to Auckland where the New Zealand Warriors treated a small crowd to their 10th win of the year, thrashing the North Queensland Cowboys by 26-0. The in-form Warriors are on 20 points and in 12th position and realistically no chance of making the top eight. The 11th-placed Cowboys are on 22 points and are playing like a team that has already given the season away.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Roosters were handing the Penrith Panthers a 20-10 pasting at Penrith Stadium. The 10th-placed Panthers, like the Cowboys, are still a mathematical chance of making the top eight but are unlikely contenders if recent form is anything to go on. The Roosters are in 13th position but are looking to unsettle teams above them on the ladder.

Saturday wrapped up in the Shire with the Parramatta Eels staging a second half comeback to blitz the Cronulla Sharks by 34-14. The Eels have now posted their eighth win on the trot and move up to fourth position and 26 points. With other results going their way, the Sharks are still clinging onto ninth spot but on 22 points, find themselves four points adrift of the top eight.

Sunday football took us to Homebush where the Canterbury Bulldogs maintained the rage in disposing of an out-of-form St George Illawarra Dragons by 26-10. The Bulldogs are in outright second position on 34 points. Meanwhile the Dragons have crashed to their fifth consecutive loss and are hanging onto seventh position amongst a crowd of teams on 26 points.

Round 23 wrapped up with the Canberra Raiders pipping the Wests Tigers by a golden point for the second time this year. Locked up at 18-all after 80 minutes, the match went into extra time with a field goal giving the Raiders a surprise 19-18 victory. The Wests Tigers are in second last position and the result all but ends any chance of them defending their title. The Raiders are looking rough on 26 points but are set to take the final position in the top eight.

LeagueUnlimited.com Player AwardsThis year?s LeagueUnlimited.com Player Awards still has Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith coming first on 27 points. Canberra full back Clinton Schifcofske is in second spot with 26 points.